News

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center and the School of Engineering are partnering with Alabama Media Group, Auburn University and Code for Birmingham to host Alabama’s Global Smart Cities Hackathon from Feb. 20-22.

United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx will be on hand this week when UAB and MAX unveil a state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell bus. The innovative and environmentally friendly bus, which will operate on MAX's downtown routes, is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and produces no tailpipe emissions.

With only a few such buses operating in the world, Birmingham will be home to the only hydrogen fuel cell bus and fueling station in the Southeast. The results of this demonstration will be used to guide designs and deployments of future fuel-cell bus fleets and ultimately automobile applications....

Mayor William Bell announced at the city council meeting Tuesday that Birmingham, in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center, is one of 16 cities selected worldwide to receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant.

The Smarter Cities Challenge grant contributes the skills and expertise of IBM’s top talent to help cities address critical issues. During the past three years, 100 cities have been selected to receive grants, with contributions valued at more than $50 million...

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center will bring green experts from around the world for the second annual Sustainable Smart Cities Symposium. The event on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, is free and open to the public, and it will focus on lessons learned in sustainability, as well as potential programs for Birmingham. Jose Holguin-Veras, Ph.D., who helped implement Manhattan’s Off-Hour Delivery Truck Program, will explain how limiting freight deliveries from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. gives the city an estimated economic savings of $100-200 million. Richard Michos, a global vice president with IBM, will discuss...

The City of Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) took a major step toward smarter, healthier and more sustainable development with the Feb. 27, 2013, signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to partner on projects such as energy efficiency and city planning that accounts for a more “livable” city. “Everyone wants to have a smart city,” Birmingham Mayor William Bell said at the signing ceremony in UAB’s Alumni House. “We want to create a green city with bike paths and proper sidewalks. We are beginning that process tonight.” UAB President Ray L. Watts said, “There is no question...

UAB’s School of Engineering and the Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center are working with the City of Vestavia and Gresham, Smith and Partners to develop and construct an innovative pedestrian bridge that will cross over U.S. Highway 31. Christopher Waldron, Ph.D., assistant professor of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, recently presented nine structure options to the Vestavia City Council for a sustainable bridge that would connect parking at Wald Park on the west side of Highway 31 with the newly constructed library on the east side. “Our primary role is to help bring some innovative ideas to the project,” Waldron says. “We’re...

UAB has made it a priority to be a good steward of its resources. Recent initiatives that embody the university’s efforts to ensure the sustainability of its education, research and health-care facilities include building the Campus Green, installing green roofs, launching a comprehensive recycling program and creating a campuswide Sustainability Committee. Jon Paolone coordinates UAB’s Recycling Center — just one of the university’s sustainability efforts. The university is pursuing its next initiative Thursday, Feb. 16, when it hosts the inaugural UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Symposium. Experts in green design and transportation, intelligent technologies, environmental sustainability, health and livability, economic development and government...